London commuters endure transport misery as rail staff strike

Commuters stand on a packed bus as others cycle accross Waterloo Bridge during a strike on the Underground by members of two unions in protest at ticket office closures and reduced staffing levels, in London, Britain January 9, 2017.  [Photo/Agencies]

"It's intolerable that key public services can be brought to a halt by a small number of militant trade unionists in what increasingly looks like a co-ordinated political action," Nick Herbert, a lawmaker in Prime Minister Theresa May's Conservative Party, told the Daily Telegraph newspaper.

The London Underground strike by staff in the RMT and TSSA unions comes in a dispute over staffing levels after the closure of ticket offices in recent years.

Transport for London (TfL) said it agreed more staff were needed in stations, and it had already started recruiting 200 extra workers. However, the unions said TfL's offer did not go far enough.

"The strike today is totally unnecessary," said London Mayor Sadiq Khan. "This Tube strike is causing misery to millions of Londoners."

Many Conservative lawmakers have called for the government to bring in new laws to curb strikes which they say cost millions of pounds and damage London's image as one of the world's major economic and financial powerhouses.

"At a time when the government is doing everything it can to show Britain is open for business post Brexit, a resurgence in union activity doesn't help that message," lawmaker Tim Loughton told the Telegraph.